Basenji without spunk - very sick, pls read

[JoeyQ]

Glad to hear Beta is improving! Have had her in my thoughts and prayers until I could get an update. I am starting to try to feed Joey a "rawer" diet. He hasn't had any digestive issues, I just think it is better for him. The breeder had been feeding him 1 raw egg yolk 2 times a week, raw lean hamburger meat, beef tripe, 1 tsp flaxseed oil/wk etc. along with kibble and cooked vegis plus more that I haven't started. I want to get a book about feeding a primarily raw diet. I suggest reading up on it as I am far from experienced in this subject. So far, Joey does well on a semi raw diet.
I sure hope Beta is on her way to a full recovery! (You mentioned the cost and I am glad that I have insurance for Joey even tho I haven't had to use it…yet).
Let's hope Beta starts the new year on a great foot...oops...paw!!

[Terry]

Check out Timberwolf Organics - expensive, but an excellent food with unique protein sources. They are online - I don't know the web site, but you should be able to Google them…
Another good food to check out is California Naturals.

Terry

[Mantis]

Beta had her staples removed on Friday and the vet said to treat her as if she has an intestinal disease. there are so many diseases out there that they cant diagnose which disease she has without her having the symptoms over time.

The vet said she should stay on the meds for the next two months.

3cc Pepto Bismol in syringe 2x a day
1 tab of Pepcid AC 2x a day (have changed to 1/2 tab 2x a day)
Prednisolone 5mg reduce inflamation 1/2 tab 2x a day
Flagyl 250 mg antibiotic 1 tab 2x a day
Tylan Soluble Powder antibiotic (over food) 1/8 Tsp 2x a day

I did a lot of research and BARF is not right for me with the present issues. I am feeding them a raw (no preservative) diet that is void of wheat, rice and corn fillers.

I found that the Natural Balance is carried in Feed stores and has several allergy or sensitive products for cats and dogs.

Beta is on the Duck and Potatoe wet food and eats 3 cans a day. I am trying to get her weight back. She is 17lbs right now and should be 20lbs for her to be healthy.

Caesar is eating the Duck and Potatoe dry food which Beta will be put on once she can eat textured foods.

The Natural Balance Duck and Potatoe is a no wheat, no rice, no corn, and no soy product. They have another one with fish, but Caesar's mom was allergic to salmon so i didnt want to risk it.

I also have the Duck and Potatoe hard treats whick Caesar loves.

I also found that the Innova Evo canned foods are 95% meat and void of the wheat, rice, and corn. This product is a bit more intense and I have it on order. My vet recommended venison. I will be mixing this as wet food in with their dry food when everything settles down.

I have a group of basenji owners (15 bs) that I meet with at the park on the weekends. They all have their kids on Innova dry which contains the meal. Remember Beta didnt dig the rice mashed when she was really bad which is why i am avoiding it now.

These foods are raw without being raw. I would suggest these to anyone. The kids have been on it for a week now and seem to love it. The canned food looks like corned beef and hash coming out of the can and not like nasty cheap wet food. It smells good also.

I am adding a pic of Beta and Caesar today.

Beta is still sluggish and not as perky as she used to be. She seems recovered from the surgery and has a soft belly. Now I am focusing on getting her back on her schedule.

I took Caesar and Beta to a local dog park yesterday because Caesar is so hyper with the less active lifestyle since Beta has been sick. He did his crazy dance at the park and had about 8 dogs running the crazy 8s. Beta trotted around a bit and sat with us (lap dog style) as we watched Caesar. It is good to get her out. when she is sheltered and pampered that snarfy bitchy b comes out in her personality. I think she had a good time and relaxed a bit.

Thats all for now….

[JoeyQ]

Glad Beta is on the uprise still. Thanks for the info on the food. I will have to try some of it.

[nala121498]

So glad to hear she's feeling better. What an ongoing ordeal. Let's hope it gets resolved for her (and your!) sake. You are one amazing Mommy!

[Mantis]

thanks for the support. i hope this thread will be informative for other b owners that have problems or similar symptoms.

this site is great.

[Mantis]

Hello,

She did really well last week eating and taking her meds. She went to a dog park with Caesar and trotted around a bit and then sat in my lap (her choice) on the bench for the rest of the time. She had her staples removed last Friday which did well. The vet added a powder antibiotic to her meds to aid with thickening her stool. The steroids seemed to really make the difference, until Wed.

All day Wed Beta looked lethargic, not moving much and just sitting on the couch. This was a perky basenji who never could sit still ever. She ate a can of food in the morning, but didnt eat after work. Took her meds fine.

Thursday morning. She still looked lethargic. I gave her the regular 3cc of pepto bismol and the 1/2 tab of pepcid. I waited about 30 min and she still looked like something wasnt right. I considered she may be in pain and i have been weening her off the tramadol pain med from the surgery. I am rotating it every other day now. So I gave her the meds with the pain med as usual. Then I offered her morning wet food which she didnt want. Thirty minutes later she threw up all of the meds.

I figured she just had an upset stomach and when to work hoping she would sleep it off while i was at work. I called the vet to document the vomiting in their logs.

I came home from work around 6. She wouldnt eat. She pooped a decent amount and it was almost solid. I gave her the pepto and pepcid as usual. She threw it up 30 min later clear foamy water in a small amout 2x. 30 min from that she had diarhea. 30 min later she threw up again, clear no foam lots of water 2x. 30 min later she had diarhea in the house, couldnt make it out. 30 min later she threw up a large amount of yellow clear color 2x. At that point it was bedtime and she woke me up at midnight to poop again and slept until this morning.

Now she is sitting next to me hungry I am sure, but no appetite. And the gurgling sounds are back. I am taking her in today for the nausea shot to hopefully help her calm her stomach so she can eat again. I ran to the store last night and will be starting again with chicken broth cold with hopes that she will keep it down.

I have decided that with this unexpected turn, that I am sending Caesar to Orlando with my parents for a week. My brother is home from college and can give him the excercise he needs. Since Christmas Caesar has started crying at 4am and 6am. He isnt excercising enough and also is just stressed about Beta. She wont play with him and he looks like he is going to explode. A trip to the park once a week isnt enough becuase he is missing his mommy one of one time.

That's all for now. Betsey

[nala121498]

Oh Betsey,
I was so hoping your baby was on the up and up. I know stomach ailments can be a trial and error thing. I know you will help her get back on track. My heart goes out to you. I'm sure Caesar will benefit from some one on one attention.
Hugs….lots of 'em...to you both.
Sharon

[jys1011]

Oh Betsey I pray that this is just a minor setback. Poor little Beta she must be so stressed about this & little Caesar must also be sharing in the stress. Hang in there & hopefully with Ceasar gone you can get a little relief from such a terrible ordeal.

Still in my prayers!
Jennifer

[Mantis]

Well I have dropped Beta off at the vet for observation today.

Caesar is with me at work having a blast sniffing everything. He will have a lot of fun spending the week with my family.

What is going on with Beta? Maybe it is an ulcer?

She couldnt take any of her meds yesterday and the original symptoms were present again this morning. The gurgling sounds, the gas and she did appear to be uncomfortable again.

[Duke]

I know you are doing everything for Beta - Bless you both. Curious if your vet has researched known Basenji intestinal disorders. I do not think Duke's current vet knows much about Basenji's, but if Duke gets sick, I will take him to a referred vet that knows this breed but is about 10 miles away.
As always, I am sending healing vibes to Beta.

[Mantis]

The vet knows about basenji diseases and I have given them tons of additional pwork with regards to any intestinal illnesses for basenjis.

The vet just called. They gave her a pepto shot in the morning to help with the nausea. Beta threw up at 11. Then they have her a shot of reglin? to help with the nausea and she threw up around 12:30. The doctor should call me shortly.

If anyone knows people who know basenjis (or are a vet dr, or know a vet dr), please print this thread out and have them read it and see what if any recommendations they may have. I will forward the suggestions or connect them directly with my vet.

Thanks for the support!! Here is a pic of Ceasar sleeping under my desk at work in anticipation for his mini-vacation while I take care of Beta.

[Mantis]

well the vet said she threw up 5 times today at their clinic.

she says that typically an intestinal disease will not relapse this fast and is worried that it is something else.

beta received fluids twice today by iv and 3 shots for nausea. hopefully the one right before we left will work. she threw up after them earlier.

i have now given her carafate which is some type of med that will stick to an ulcer if she has one.

i will try to see if i can get the pepcid in her stomach later.

keep your fingers crossed, i am hoping she will try the chicken broth later.

[red and white furever]

More hugs and positive thoughts coming your way. Hoping that Beta will like the chicken broth and be able to keep it in her tummy.

[jenwilson]

Thinking positive thoughts for your and Beta…. how terrible for her, you and Ceasar... My prayers are with you all as you contine through this ordeal. PLEASE continue to keep us updated. Thanks for the food information.... I just had an allergy problem with my basenji/whippet mix... we don't know what caused it, but the steroid shot and pills took care of it, but we have cut back on WHAT she eats... I may try some of the food you mentioned. Thanks again and God Bless you and Beta.

[JoeyQ]

Thanks so much for sharing your story. Yes, I am certain that it is helpful for all of us to have the information. Poor little Beta, I feel so badly for you all!! You are so dedicated to both your dogs! Keep your head up and think positive. You know how intuitive Bs are!

[Mantis]

well she was at the vet all day and still is throwing up. she has had diarhea twice today and the most recent episope has flecks of blood in it.

the inhouse specialist reviewed the case and looked at her and has suggested that it may be the meds? the pepto has aspirin in it so we stopped that 2 days ago. tonight she had the carafate and held it down. then the pepcid crushed and with water and she threw that up.

the specialist wants me to change to zantac instead becuase it has more of a nausea relief in it. she also said to feed her cottage cheese and soft boiled potatoes. i told her that would be great if she could hold a pill down.

she has had 1/4 cup of broth and i am hoping she can hold it down. she has had no solid food for 3 days now. i am sure she is hungry. i am supposed to try to get the steroid in her somehow, but we will see

if she doesnt start eating soon they suggest the scope to look at the intestines. they throw up with bile and the diarhea that is a wet liquid with brown granules in it is from the upper intestine the doctors say.

i am at about $4k so I am hoping that she will eat soon instead of needing more tests. They took her blood again yesterday and the results didnt show anything wrong.

[nala121498]

Oh boy…I feel so awful for poor Beta...she's getting such good care from you. I hope she starts eating soon. I think of you all often and am keeping her in my prayers. Thanks for the updates.

[Mantis]

Yesterday before bed Beta had blood in her diahrea. Not a good sign. I immediately kicked up my stress and mommy alert.

She woke me at 2:45 coughing (the wheezing sound mentioned earlier) or what I thought was her vomiting. She hadnt thrown up but was in distress. I could hear her gassy sounds in her stomach from the other room, which is amazing. I crushed up the reglan for nausea and gave it to her in a syringe with water.

30 min later I gave her the steroid praying she would hold it down. she hadnt held any meds or food down in 3 days. the reglan shots at the vet were even making her vomit. 30 min later the cough/gag/wheezing sounds stopped and she could breath clearly.

She slept the rest of the night in my arms on the couch.

So, the nausea med is 2x per day and was still in her system in the morn, so she was ok. I gave her the carafate for a potential ulcer. She kept that down. I then gave her another prednisone dose and she held that down. The crushing of all pills and giving it to her with 6cc of water or chicken broth seems to work now that the pills are too harsh in a swallowing form.

Now she is only to eat cottage cheese and boiled potatoe if I can get her to do more than chicken broth. She has eaten about 2 cups of it today and still hasnt thrown up.

The vets are concerned that the nausea meds were causing problems. The pepto bismol has aspirin in it and may be to rough on her stomach. The doc also had me change from the pepcid ac to zantac (1/4 of a reg dose). Apparently zantac has something in it that covers nausea better than pepcid. So I gave her the zantac around 2pm when her meds had worn off and she was starting to get nauseas and wheezy again. too early for pred and i was worried she would throw up all of the food i had worked so hard to get her interested in. she doesnt seem to react well to the zantac and i am not going to use it tomorrow unless i have to. the reglan is a 2x a day thing, but mid day it wears off.

so the vets have her on the cc and boiled potatoe because they are worried that she is reacting to a med or the duck in the duck and potatoe (which she loved).

i believe the problem that caused this relapse is the pepto, pepcid and zantac. they must have something in them that doesnt sit well with her. hopefully.

she is 16lbs now and i have to get some food on her.

they said if she doesnt improve over the weekend (which she has just by the not vomiting) that they recommend a scope to look into her tummy etc. it is frustrating they dont know what this is.

if they do the scope the specialist said that they usually put a feeding tube at that point. i am not ready for that. sounds too scarey.

so, all meds have stopped since she wouldnt hold them down.

now she gets the reglan for nausea
the prednisone for inflamation
and the carafate in case there is an ulcer

if she doesnt throw up tonight i will try to get her back on the flagyl for the antibiotic.

food is key.

here is a pic of her today hanging out on the couch.

[lvoss]

Some of the side effects listed for Flagyl are diarreah, loss of apetite, and naseau, and vomiting.